Molecular Dispersion of Starch as a Crucial Parameter during Size-Exclusion Chromatography

Starch, α-polyglucan consisting of a large number of anhydroglucose units joined by α-1,4- and α-1,6-glycosidic bonds, seems to be characterized by a simple structure when compared to other natural polymers. Nevertheless, starches of various botanical origins have different physicochemical properties that are related to the differences in molecular and supramolecular structure of this polymer. In terms of the functional value of starch, the behavior of its macromolecules in solution is the most important result of its structural features. Extremely high molecular mass is the fundamental structural property of starch. Water, considered simply as a solvent for solubilization, does not provide molecular dispersion of starch without its degradation. The objectives of this study are to characterize the suitability of a new aqueous media (urea/NaOH) for enhancing the dispersion of native corn and potato starches and its effect on the consequent size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis. The results were referred to other aqueous base solvents used for dispersing starch (NaOH and KOH). The samples were separated using SEC with triple detection and phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) with urea as the eluent. The characteristics of tested normal and waxy starches were compared. The results revealed that urea/NaOH did not degrade starch during the dispersion process. The recovery of starches, however, was not higher than 42%. These results prove that while the urea/NaOH solvent allows to obtain cold-water-soluble starch, the degree of disintegration of the intramolecular interactions of amylopectin chains is still insufficient.